Abortion Rights Blog

Great dates for your diary!

There are some interesting events coming up in the next couple of months that we hope pro-choice supporters will get involved with.

Freedom of speech, anti-abortion protestors and women: Rights and Limits

Tuesday 11th September, Conway Hall, London

This year’s Bpas Public Debate will tackle one of the key issues facing the pro-choice movement: the rise of anti-choice protests outside abortion clinics and how we should respond to them.

Abortion Rights is vehemently opposed to protest activities which directly target women seeking access to healthcare. These tactics are distressing, intimidating and we’re campaigning for more action to be taken to stop it.

But this can be a thorny issue for those who support both the right to choose and the right to freedom of speech and expression. How do we balance the freedom to access and offer care with the right to oppose abortion? Is it necessary to limit the freedom of speech of anti-abortion protestors in order to protect women? Does the right to offend include those who are about to go through a medical procedure, including abortion?

These are questions that Ann Furedi, Chief Executive of abortion provider Bpas, and Andrea Minichiello Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, will be debating. With journalist, lawyer and free speech campaigner David Allen Green in the chair, we’re looking forward to a fascinating discussion.

Abortion Rights is proud to be supporting UK Feminista’s first Feminist Lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 24th October. Pro-choice supporters will be joining activists from across the UK to call on politicians to stop eroding women’s rights and start driving forward women’s equality.

Covering key feminist issues including

ending violence against women and girls

improving women’s representation in society

promoting equality in the economy, work and family

ensuring justice and rights for women (that’s us!)

and supported by a range of great organisations, including our friends at Education for Choice, the lobby will be a chance for women to speak directly to their MP about the issues that make a difference in their lives.

We’ll bring you more info about the event over the coming weeks, including our specific demands around reproductive rights, but for now you can learn more about the event here and sign up today!

And while you’re there, don’t forget to book your place at the UK Feminista Summer School on 15th and 16th September in Bristol. It’s always a brilliant event and we’ll be speaking too!